The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-22

rooms they havs prepared for them
selves are gaudy and exiravagant In
thsir splendor beyond oil parallel.
Tire mind Is bewildered in contem-
plating the carpets, khe desks, the
pictures, the chairs and sofas that
adorn the various rooms. The Exec
tive Bard seems to have taxed their
ingenuity in devising plans on which !
to spend money. The luxuriousnets
Of their headquarters is ap-
palling to the Knights Of Labor, and
has provoked a revolt, q storm
OF indignation throughout the country.
The working classes complain that the
rich grind the poor to enable them to
roll In luxurious extravaganza; aud it
is natural that the laboring classes
should complain that the money ex-
torted from them by the General Ex'
ecutive d lard should be wasted in lux
urious follies SURPRISING the wealthiest
monopolies Of the whole country.
Fowderly is very angry at the me IN
bers OF the order who have dared to
criticIse the sumptuous and luxurious
qusrters OF the General Executive
Board, as will be seen from the follow
ing extract:
IL were working for corporation
would have resiensd long since on account
Of 9yetwork, rsgardlets o. whst tne sals, y,
tho abuse and insult was offered me that has
boon offered me, nay, heaped upon me, by
members Of the order sould quit IN avs
gust. ! am not working for the grumblefs
and fault finders; am not labOring ior tho
malicious rasoals who rush into print with
every grievance against the general otneersi
am not working for tho cartons who SIT on
tho fence and never attack a living issue,
but wait uutil some ono else has killed their
prey and then pOunoe upon the carcass only
10 gorge them selves. with nth, Groito a
stencil and drive all decent birds away
from thor i'll smollinE work. am working
for the men and women OF this order
who believe In its principles and WINS
honestly and fearle6sly work to put them IN
XII. diTdII not soo the mean, malicious, false
and eowardly attacks which, inspired by ne-
signing knsves. have been made upea we
general sfficers. 1 would not stop IN the
work 10 make this explanation had not the
papers publ ned by members Of tho order
stooped 10 the throwing Of dirt and false:
hood, In the doing OF which they vlolateo
their pledge Of knighthsOd as VOL IS eVoU
principle of honor and manhood.
Isit possible that Powderly is Goinp
to sink 10 the level OF Denis
Krarneyf The above utterances
sounds like the language which made
the California Backyard pub
lie Nuisance. Powderly's anger ia
unjust to himself. He makes
great mistake In charging that th'
members Of his order who crlticist
the extravaganza Of the general Eek
ecutive Board are malicious rascals
and designing knavee." Many o
. tho best men OF the knights Of Labo
CON denim Powderly and his associate
for indulging in such luxury and CT
travagance as they have most se
, sursdly. There is great dissatisfaction
a that the money Of workingman'
organization should have been waste
n In buying and fitting up quarters 10
n Ito oAicerA more luxurious than thos
!, enjoyed by railroad presidents or ban
:. directors. 1t was a weakness on tn
, part Of Powderly to engage in sue
. extravaganza, and he shows sti
% greater weakness In vilifying an
;. blackgurding all who dare to doul
!, his iniallibilty.